Tax refunds have increased by 24% compared to the past four years of data since President Donald Trump took office, according to the Trump administration.
Since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed last July, the administration has been promising that filers would see bigger tax breaks this season. The bill included initiatives such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, allowing deductions for car loan interest, and expanding certain tax breaks for seniors.
A Trump official said these policies are the cause of the refunds in a comment to the Associated Press.
When asked whether higher gas prices, driven by the war in Iran and disruptions in the critical Strait of Hormuz, could offset the benefit of larger refunds, the official emphasized that more money is still going into people’s pockets.
In January, the White House said it expected the “biggest tax refund season ever,” projecting average refunds would increase by $1,000 or more this year due to what it described as “transformative policies,” referencing Republicans’ 2025 tax legislation.
The latest Internal Revenue Service data shows the average refund stands at $3,521, only an 11% increase from last year’s $3,170.
THE 2026 TAX DEADLINE IS APPROACHING. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW AS YOU FILE YOUR RETURNS
So far, nearly 89 million Americans have filed their taxes, with about $221.7 billion in refunds distributed.
For most taxpayers, the deadline to file a 2025 federal income tax return remains April 15. Returns must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. local time to be considered on time. The documents needed to file can be found here.
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